FRANKFORT, Ky. – Governor Ernie Fletcher, Ohio Governor Bob Taft and Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell announced today that the three states have entered into a formal agreement to support the region’s efforts to secure the $1 billion FutureGen power plant proposed by the FutureGen Industrial Alliance and the United States Department of Energy (DOE).

FutureGen will be the world’s first coal-fueled, near-zero-emissions power plant.At least nine states have expressed interest in competing for the plant.

“The FutureGen project is an outgrowth of this administration’s emphasis on working toward finding real solutions to the energy challenges facing the Commonwealth and the nation. I am excited for Kentucky to join a collaborative proposal that may use some of the state’s most valuable resources,” said Governor Fletcher. “A collaborative relationship between Kentucky, Ohio and Pennsylvania will serve as a strong foundation for the project to be sited in the region. We are doing all we can to make this a reality.”

All states competing for FutureGen must submit formal proposals to the FutureGen Industrial Alliance in Washington, D.C., by May 4, 2006.Kentucky has announced it will submit a HendersonCounty site proposal. Ohio will submit separate proposals for sites in Meigs and Tuscarawas Counties, and Pennsylvania is interested in serving as a research partner should a Kentucky or Ohio site be chosen to host FutureGen.

The three member states also have committed to creating the Ohio River Valley Coal Research Consortium, a collaboration between the states’ major universities and other research and technology development organizations.The consortium will help advance the research objectives of FutureGen, provide review mechanisms for spin-off research projects, help transfer technological developments to industry, and facilitate ongoing research collaborations.

The 275-megawatt FutureGen plant is expected to create more than 100 full-time research and facility jobs, an additional 1,000 construction jobs and an increase in university research activities.